Tag Archives: Isabel Marant

My goodness, it feels like I’ve been on vacation for years! I was terribly, dreadfully busy with my business trip to Boston, then spent a few delightful weeks in France and was swept up all over again in the joyful turmoil that is New York life. Apparently I am still accustomed to the French tradition of taking extended leave. You can take the girl out of Paris…

Anyway, today marks the first birthday of Ritournelle! As you can read on my Portrait page, I launched my blog on the eve of my own birthday (hint, hint!) a year ago while still living in France. I am really thankful to you for reading and commenting on my finds, especially during such a transitional period of my life. Your support makes the blogging experience so much better and encourages me to keep on writing in-depth articles and brave the museum security guards. Merci beaucoup!

What better occasion to share with you the presents I received in advance? (Most are gifts to myself – I am not that spoilt.) After being featured on Le Choix Trois, I received insistent requests for personal style posts. Rest assured they will not become regulars on the blog but I do love sharing the stories around beloved items. Furthermore, I was asked over dinner last weekend where I find French brands in New York; I was foolishly unable to answer as I usually shop in Paris. So here is an overview of the brands I value and where you can get them on both sides of the pond.

You may recognize this coat from the post I wrote last fall on Parisian charity store Merci. Indeed I tried on the Ben coat from Etoile Isabel Marant just before moving to New York and didn’t want to take it off. Its understated chic, bracelet sleeves, oversized style and warmth made it a must-have. Comments from readers and The Fashion Spot fully convinced me. Alas, it was already sold out in Paris a week later. So imagine my surprise and delight when I saw a similar model at Merci last month! I didn’t think twice about buying it and am now fully prepared to brave the New York winter cold.

Isabel Marant opened her first store in America last year. Located in Soho, it is a pleasant boutique stocking both Isabel Marant and the more affordable Etoile line. I do wish they would display more clothes in such a big space though: apart from the prices, having a larger choice is the main reason why I wait for my trips to France to consider shopping.

I also needed a light jacket for professional occasions yet kept shunning the usual grey and black blazers. They reminded me of too many job interviews and I avoid dressing too formally for work anyway. For some reason my mind was set on Vanessa Bruno. It is an expensive brand, yes, but I feel it is important to own a well-tailored long-lasting piece. And I happened to be in Paris during the sales (how savvy am I?). Like the coat, this jacket was love at first sight. Its sleek cut, original asymmetric fastening and color make me feel confident and stylish instead of formal and disguised. Just what I needed.

Vanessa Bruno opened her first American store last year as well. Sadly for me it is located in Los Angeles and I have yet to find a retailer in New York. Do visit her stores if you are in Paris though: I honestly love everything she does and items displayed on Net à Porter and style.com do not do her justice.

Ask any French person which fashion brand reminds them of childhood; I bet Petit Bateau will come up 99% of the time. The brand has successfully marketed itself for teenagers and adults over the past years and recruited cult indie band MGMT for an advertizing campaign. It even opened a store carrying only adult sizes steps away from Colette in Paris. Speaking of which, Petit Bateau kept the same age system as for children’s clothes, meaning I will always be 16 in their eyes. How flattering. So flattering I took a few V-neck T-shirts I have been wearing on repeat since coming back into the New York heat. They are the perfect basics and somehow can even feel chic paired with the right accessories.

To my surprise I happened to find a very large Petit Bateau store in the Upper East Side of New York. The brand has other stores in Beverly Hills and Boston and an e-commerce website for the USA.

I had been looking for a golden bangle for some time and finally spotted this one among a display of gorgeous jewelry at Le Bon Marché, my favorite store in Paris. I then saw the designer was Hervé van der Straeten, whose work I had been curious to know more about. Quite the genius, van der Straeten designs furniture and jewelry as well as cosmetic packaging like the Dior J’adore bottle and the Kiss Kiss Guerlain lipstick. On a more personal level, he is the longtime boyfriend of Bruno Frisoni who designs shoes for his own line and for Roger Vivier. This bangle is quite large without being massive, a statement piece yet light and very wearable.

I have spotted Hervé van der Straeten jewelry at Jeffrey in New York’s Meatpacking district. I believe Neiman Marcus also carries the brand.

Another bracelet, much more simple this time. Maman Ritournelle and I were desperately trying to find where Yves Saint Laurent opened his first Rive Gauche boutique back in the 1960s rue Tournon in Paris. That’s when I came upon the Marie-Hélène de Taillac store, a few steps away from Bonpoint. If you recall my post on Inès de la Fressange, this jewelry designer is mentioned in Parisian Chic and was attending the book-signing event. Marie-Hélène is based in India and designs gorgeous collections inspired from this country, highlighting the colors and shapes of gemstones with gold settings. Prices are easily over $1,000 dollars for an item but charms like mine are quite affordable. This aquamarine looks a little lonely on my wrist and calls for more companions…

I am ashamed to say I owned only one bag before my trip to Paris, a large leather one that is a little too wintery for some summer outfits. I finally decided on a Vanessa Bruno cabas. Sold in a great variety of sizes, colors and fabrics, this is the it-bag of the typical Parisian woman yet it remains quite rare overseas. Although I was drawn to more large leather shoulder bags at first, I love how light and playful my cabas is with its sequined handle.

And finally, this Hermès scarf is my most treasured possession of all those featured in this post. As we entered the new store on the left bank of Paris, Maman Ritournelle told me with a hint of pride that she would be happy to give me my first Hermès scarf for my upcoming birthday. I had previously given her a few scarves (featured in this post) with Papa Ritournelle and the J’aime mon Carré campaign had turned them into objects of desire.

This one is the first that I noticed in store and the first that I tried on. Choosing a Hermès scarf is usually a difficult process because of the number of options, yet this is the exact color I was looking for as it goes with everything. Called Pégase, this model was created to celebrate a major equestrian competition. I have yet to experiment with all the different ways I can style it but I am sure it will become one of my wardrobe staples. And I could wear it just to hear the sound of rustling silk!

Hermès has a gorgeous store on Madison Avenue that has been recently renovated. I recommend you go up to the top floor to view their home collection.

A big thank you to my friend and fellow European expat Sarah from Style on the Couch for taking the pictures for this post!

Merci was the talk of the town when it opened its doors in Paris’s fashionable Marais district in March 2009. There was something unusual about this concept store with an eclectic selection of vintage Chanel bags, kitchen utensils and used books: Merci donates 100% of its profits to a charitable cause.

While charity shops are popular in English-speaking countries, it is not so much the case yet in France. Brands develop partnerships with charity organizations such as Product Red, but they are limited in time and in the number of items sold. Charitable movements like Emmaus use 100% of their profits from sales of used objects to combat poverty and homelessness. However, the quality is not necessarily good and their shops are not run by retail professionals.

Are charity shops popular where you live? Do you shop there or would you rather buy a product from a brand that has a partnership with a charitable organization?

Marie-France and Bernard Cohen are famous in the fashion industry for creating the very chic children’s label Bonpoint. Instead of quietly enjoying their retirement, the couple decided to use their experience for a good cause by opening a charity shop. Textile workers in Madagascar had produced Bonpoint clothing for 30 years, so the Cohens wanted to give back by donating 100% of the profits of the appropriately named Merci (“thank you” in English) to help women and children in one of the world’s poorest countries.

More than a year after its opening, I finally had a chance to see Merci for myself. I found the store outstanding for its very large and eclectic selection of functional and timeless objects. There is something in there for everyone in terms of taste, budget and needs. It is also a very pleasant place to visit: daylight streams into the 16,000 square feet of loft-like space through a giant glass roof and the displays are simple yet tastefully done.

A few changes have occurred since the opening. The flower shop located near the entrance has been replaced by an organic takeaway. As for the clothes, there is no longer a children’s section and Merci does not sell luxury brands anymore.

The entrance with its cute red car leads to a lofty room were you will find a mix of home decoration items, dishes, stationery, perfume, candles and fashion accessories.

At the Used Book café, you can grab a bite or drink a cup of tea in a very cozy atmosphere, surrounded by used books for sale.

The garden floor comprises the kitchen utensils section and an organic restaurant facing a lovely vegetable patch that I highly recommend.

The clothes and accessories appeal to women whose style is timeless yet trendy, with brands such as Isabel Marant, Swildens (the designer is the niece of the Cohens), APC, Paul and Joe and Petit Bateau. There is also a section for men. The prices are the same as in other stores, contrary to what has been said at the opening of Merci.

Etoile Isabel Marant clothes sold at Merci

I bought a few practical things for myself and put this beautiful Etoile Isabel Marant coat on my wish-list. It’s so warm and comfortable!

The home section is mostly in the rustic style with lots of wood furniture. There was a lovely display with a table set under a wooden canopy holding a crystal chandelier. Among the objects I noticed were a Baccarat lamp and Martin Margiela trompe-l’œil doors.

Love that stool!

These vases made of silicone are paper-thin when empty.

It was important to Marie-France Cohen, the co-founder of Merci, to sell perfume and candles from her late sister’s brand, Annick Goutal. This section is displayed as a laboratory, which contrasts deeply with the extremely refined identity of the brand. 5 fragrances (Eau de Camille, Eau de Charlotte, Passion, Heure Exquise, L’Eau du Sud) are sold in flasks so their prices are 30% to 40% less than in Annick Goutal stores. Likewise, perfumed candles are sold with refills.

I had heard negative feedback on Merci as a place for “bobos” (a French expression describing “bohemian bourgeois”). The clientele can indeed be categorized as such, but Merci sells products for every budget and the staff is very friendly and helpful. I found it surprising though that Merci does not communicate more on its charitable actions. There is no mention of it in store, not even on the receipt. I would have appreciated to know what will be done with the money I spent. According to the founders of Merci, people are nowadays constantly asked to donate money. The concept store managers ask suppliers and brands to help them with their cause, but demand nothing from their clients and therefore do not mention their charitable actions in store.